Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Look For Spock Behind Camera

Welcome, fellow Trekkers, to the blog where you can fondly recall items and articles that you had or still have, or catch some you might have missed. I am having a great time opening the collection cabinets and going through stuff that, before doing the blog, I hardly ever took out to look at. I'm finding stuff I forgot I had, or hadn't seen in years! The newspaper clipping featured this time is from an unspecified date in the summer of 1983, when production was starting on "The Search For Spock." This movie was highly anticipated by us fans at the time. Would Spock return? We shouldn't have worried.
(Click on images to enlarge.)

Below, a one-page bio of Nimoy from the pages of the teen magazine "16," notable for being published during the show's first season, when it was on NBC Thursdays at 8:30 PM. Note the personal address given! This was before the groundswell of popularity, when he replied to mail himself and sent out autographed photos in response to requests. Imagine that! UPDATE: In a comment posted by reader "JohnG7," we find out more about that; "16 Magazine was supposed to give Nimoy's public mail drop, but they printed his actual home address on Comstock Drive. Sacks of mail showed up every day that the family had to spend hours answering, and fans came to the house looking for Leonard. The next issue of 16 ran a correction but the damage was done. The Nimoys moved out within a year. -- JohnG7" Thanks for that, John! I do remember reading that somewhere, probably in one of his books, but I forgot about it.

"Bonus;" Below, a photo highlighting the problem with the jumpsuit versions of the uniforms used in "ST:TMP." Every time a male character appears in the movie in a scene that shows below the waist, it is obvious that they are going "commando." You can practically tell their religion, as the saying goes, and it distracts from the drama going on, generating uncomfortable snickers. This publicity shot is particularly disturbing, as Nimoy is showing a wet spot! E-e-e-e-e-e-w!


"Spock, I am not looking at you until you do something about that."

Maybe it had to do with the fact that a wardrobe person had to assist the actor in and out of the uniform to go the bathroom, but really, Len... shake it next time! I can't believe the photographer and all the publicity people let that one get by them, but they did, and now it's there for all to see, and wish they hadn't. If these had been used again in a sequel, the movie might have been called "Star Trek: The Search For Underwear." Stephen Collins as Decker fared especially bad in the movie wearing these, and I'm sure he hoped that Persis' bald head called attention away from his embarrassing bulges. No such luck.

Bonus: Below, some of the buttons I collected in the mid 70's. I picked these up at the store "Starship Enterprises." Yes, I admit, I occasionally did wear them to work as a teen. Little wonder I didn't date much.

8 comments:

The 4th Doctor said...

That it hilarious...yet disturbing. The main thing I always can't take my eyes off in ST:TMP is that Spock's ears change shapes from scene to scene. He arrived in TV series ears, then they suddenly shrunk (thanks to a ruined original mold as the myth goes).

TMI (aka cmx) said...

Long ago, I worked on a film crew where one of the main actors, in light tan pants, constantly had one of those telltale spots. It was a bit...embarrassing.

Anonymous said...

16 Magazine was supposed to give Nimoy's public mail drop, but they printed his actual home address on Comstock Drive. Sacks of mail showed up every day that the family had to spend hours answering, and fans came to the house looking for Leonard. The next issue of 16 ran a correction but the damage was done. The Nimoys moved out within a year. -- JohnG7

Frederick said...

Thanks for the info, John! Seems like I did read that somewhere but had fogotten about it. I am updating the post to include your comment!

syfymango said...

Nimoy's eyes are brown...not Hazel...

Anonymous said...

There is absolutely nothing flattering about the uniform Leonard had to where for this publicity shot.

Patrick J said...

From what I remember, Nimoy's ear molds made for "TMP" were ruined after baking the latex ears overnight; IIRC, the person who was supposed to watch them, didn't. Luckily, Fred Phillips had saved the ear molds from the series. Which he used until new molds were made.
During production of the series, the pointed ears could be re-used if need be; any small defects would not be visible on the TV screen. This was not the case with the movies; once Nimoy removed the ears, they were useless, due to the greater detail the movie camera picks up.

Frederick said...

Patrick, thanks for the comment (all of them) and for adding this bit of info. I remember reading about that now that you mention it!